2nd UMass student hit in crosswalk

AMHERST — A University of Massachusetts student was hit by a vehicle while walking in a campus crosswalk around 6:15 p.m. Tuesday — the second such accident in two days.

UMass spokesman Edward Blaguszewski said the student was struck by a car while using the Commonwealth Avenue crosswalk near the Recreation Center. The student, whose name, age and gender were not available, was taken to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield with “non-life-threatening injuries,” Blaguszewski said.

He did not have any information about the driver. Blaguszewski said campus police are investigating the accident, adding, “they do not believe weather was a factor.”

On Monday, three women attending UMass were struck by a passing vehicle while walking in the same crosswalk shortly after 6 p.m. In that incident, two of the students were treated for minor injuries at the scene and the third was taken to Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton with a non-life-threatening head injury.

Blaguszewski had said the driver was expected to face charges in connection with the accident.

Asked if any changes would be made following Tuesday’s incident in the crosswalk, Blaguszewski said safety in the area “is very much a concern” of UMass administrators.

“What the police will have to do is look at the details of each incident, look at the area and the circumstances to determine if there is something distinct or if this was a coincidence” he said.